I'm sending from AKAI EWI USB through a USB-to-MIDI box into a Yamaha MU50. For ten minutes I play (carefully) without a problem. Then begins an increasingly frequent cascade of disconnections as the MU50 drops recognition of midi input and I restart it. I've run the EWI into and through AKAI S2000 to MU50 and thus know that the EWI continues to trigger S2000 uninterruptedly while the MU50 drops out. Is it possible for anyone to tell me what is going wrong, why, how to fix it? although I've played with midi for decades, I've never delved into its intricacies. Thank you!
Mark
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Technical Question — 3 months ago
Hello,
I've got a MU90r connected to my system, and I've never had any problem with it, although I'm using straight midi 3 pin DIN connectors.
The question here is - what are you using for USB <--> MIDI connection. There have been a number of enquiries in this area on this forum, and there is a cheap connector that in frequently causing problems, there are clear faults with the design/construction of this device. It can work under certain circumstances, it can lose some notes but not others, it is very problematic, and it would be better to use a better unit (many have swapped to a Roland device and found all their problems have been solved).
Use of Google on the web should bring up details, including pictures, of the problem device. There are instructions as to how to 'fix' it, but this may be more trouble than it's worth.
Geoff
I've got a MU90r connected to my system, and I've never had any problem with it, although I'm using straight midi 3 pin DIN connectors.
The question here is - what are you using for USB <--> MIDI connection. There have been a number of enquiries in this area on this forum, and there is a cheap connector that in frequently causing problems, there are clear faults with the design/construction of this device. It can work under certain circumstances, it can lose some notes but not others, it is very problematic, and it would be better to use a better unit (many have swapped to a Roland device and found all their problems have been solved).
Use of Google on the web should bring up details, including pictures, of the problem device. There are instructions as to how to 'fix' it, but this may be more trouble than it's worth.
Geoff
Thanks, Geoff. I'm using a generic powered USB to midi interface box. It works fine triggering the Akai S2000 all day, no fumbles, but the mu50 doesn't like it for long. I've swapped both USB and midi cables to no effect. I can't afford to keep buying devices not knowing if they'll solve this problem or not. USB -to-MIDI interface boxes don't come cheaply. Nothing does. Acoustic instruments once again demonstrate their ultimate cost-effectiveness.
Hmm,
The problems I'm referring to relate to one specific device, widely sold I understand. If you're getting your problem with different devices, then it's something else.
Could I suppose be something to do with the MU50, but I don't know what.
Does not sound like it's anything to do with MIDI.
Sounds to me more like there's a component in the MU that, once it warms up, is starting to fail. Might even be a solder joint somewhere, they too can be affected by temperature. Can you open the MU up, i.e. take the cover off, and cool it with a fan (not too drastically), and see if it works OK for longer? How long has the problem been happening for, was it worse when it was warmer than cooler (or vice-versa dep on where in the world you are.
You tend to think that these sort of boxes will last for ever, but that's not the case. They can suffer from 'old-age'. Can of course be fixed by those who know about this sort of thing, but may not be easy to do for specialised pieces of gear. Yamaha do at least have a network of repair agents (more re keyboards etc) but they should be able to take care of something like a MU device.
An extra thought. When the MU starts to misbehave, if you try to play the demo songs then, what do they do? The answer may help narrow down which part of the unit has the problem.
Geoff
The problems I'm referring to relate to one specific device, widely sold I understand. If you're getting your problem with different devices, then it's something else.
Could I suppose be something to do with the MU50, but I don't know what.
Does not sound like it's anything to do with MIDI.
Sounds to me more like there's a component in the MU that, once it warms up, is starting to fail. Might even be a solder joint somewhere, they too can be affected by temperature. Can you open the MU up, i.e. take the cover off, and cool it with a fan (not too drastically), and see if it works OK for longer? How long has the problem been happening for, was it worse when it was warmer than cooler (or vice-versa dep on where in the world you are.
You tend to think that these sort of boxes will last for ever, but that's not the case. They can suffer from 'old-age'. Can of course be fixed by those who know about this sort of thing, but may not be easy to do for specialised pieces of gear. Yamaha do at least have a network of repair agents (more re keyboards etc) but they should be able to take care of something like a MU device.
An extra thought. When the MU starts to misbehave, if you try to play the demo songs then, what do they do? The answer may help narrow down which part of the unit has the problem.
Geoff
Thanks again. I pulled out my old yourock midi guitar with five pin midi out to MU50 and have been playing it for 30 minutes without issue, so I'm back to thinking it's something sent by the EWI that offends the MU50 so much it just closes the door. But as you can see, I don't know enough. I'm going to try another USB-to-MIDI host box and if that doesn't work, I just use the ewi exclusively with a computer.
Oh, I wish folks would give the complete story! So, you're now suggesting (you don't say explicitly) that if you're sending MIDI from a computer, that works fine, and keeps on working fine, past the time when live playing from the keybs starts to fail?
That makes a big difference!
The MU50 sports a number of modes, GM, XG, GS? etc and it could well be that something is getting into the midi command sequence that is not liked by the mode you're using. No way to say (with present info) if this problem is something OK that's got damaged in transit, or something originating from the sending unit (keyboard). The fact that you say the guitar can send ok midi as well (just like the PC) is also important.
When things start going wrong, can you describe as detailed as possible just what happens. Does the display on the MU continue to display as normal? Is there sound, but distorted? Do midi settings already established change, i.e. instrument selected, volume, anything else.
Geoff
That makes a big difference!
The MU50 sports a number of modes, GM, XG, GS? etc and it could well be that something is getting into the midi command sequence that is not liked by the mode you're using. No way to say (with present info) if this problem is something OK that's got damaged in transit, or something originating from the sending unit (keyboard). The fact that you say the guitar can send ok midi as well (just like the PC) is also important.
When things start going wrong, can you describe as detailed as possible just what happens. Does the display on the MU continue to display as normal? Is there sound, but distorted? Do midi settings already established change, i.e. instrument selected, volume, anything else.
Geoff
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